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•Design Matching
•Exterior Design

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As we close the door on 2015, lets take a look at what the design industry experts are saying about the coming year. As modern life gets busier and more pressured, our homes have become our sanctuaries. Centered around simplicity, serenity and seamlessness, the 2016 interior reflects our need to switch off and detox. Warm but calming colors are complimented by natural textures and soft shapes while furniture is becoming ever more tailored and intuitive, both at home and in the office.

Rose Quartz and Serenity
Aurora wallpaper by Calico Studios.

Global color authority Pantone surprised the design community by naming not one but two colors for the 2016 edition of its Color of the Year forecast. The pastel pink Rose Quartz and powder blue Serenity may seem like a sugary sweet selection but according to Pantone, the pairing is in fact part of a more unilateral approach to color-a commentary on the current societal movements toward gender equality and fluidity.

Chiming with Pantone's prediction, British wallpaper brand Graham & Brown 's 2016 forecast was full of dusty pinks and pale blues enlivened with warm metallic accents. Demonstrating how these contrasting shades can be united within a single design, Calico Studios prove that they were way ahead of the curve when they launched their Aurora line of wallpapers last year. Inspired by ombre skies, the 16 gradient designs were created by dying organic linen with ultramarine and indigo dyes.

Design Detox
"Comfort Zone" by Valspar.

Offering a complete color palette cleanse, some of the major wallpaper and paint brands are moving towards quiet and calming hues for 2016. New York-based hospitality designer and entrepreneur Stacy Garcia tells us 'the growing emphasis on this need to always be connected has created a movement to find quiet simplicity amongst the noise.'

Signaling a move away from cold greys to warm stone hues in 2016, Sherwin-Williams has announced Alabaster (SW 7008), a hue symbolic of new beginnings, as its 2016 Color of the Year. Also wiping the slate clean is paint brand Benjamin Moore, who has selected Simply White OC-117 shade as its 2016 Color of the Year while Valspar paint says that its restorative 2016 color palette 'Comfort Zone' is an antidote to a 'fast-paced lifestyle' and will 'balance the mind, body and spirit.'

Warm Metals
Arik Levy's Bowl collection for Inbani.

Particularly effective in the bathroom and kitchen space, rose gold, brass, copper and gold will continue to dominate in 2016 according to London-based interior designer Gemma Gordon-Duff of Gordon-Duff & Linton who suggests pairing them with raw, natural materials such as marble and wood. "Good quality materials like this are a great investment because they will never go out of style," she advises.

Made of a copper and gold alloy mixture, the 18-carat patina of Dornbracht's non-corrosive electroplated surface Cyprum is the first new finish to be launched by Dornbracht since 2009. Patricia Urquiola's two-part Cuna bath for Agape features a thermoformed solid surface tub supported by a tubular copper frame. Arik Levy's Bowl collection for Spanish bathroom brand Inbani mixes white ceramic with copper and marble details.

Rough Luxe
John Whitmarsh's new cement tile collections for Clé.

"Instant aging of materials and adding texture and depth to a space always helps add to the experience," says Jon Sherman Founder & Creative Director of Brooklyn-based wallpaper company Flavor Paper, who predicts that papers that mimic industrial finishes will be big news in 2016.

"Being able to add some grime or roughness to a very sterile environment adds an unexpected touch and intrigues the senses," says Sherman of Flavor Paper's textural designs, Teardrop Wall, Charred Cedar and Galapagos Wall, which bring roughness into the interior but without the cost, weight and problematic depth. Similarly Piet Hein Eek's latest tromp l'oeil effect papers for manufacturer NLXL resemble architectural materials such as painted bricks and salvaged wood. Sculptor John Whitmarsh's new cement tile collections for Clé are made by taking gypsum cement castings from reclaimed materials such as pallets, roadside guardrail posts, and discarded metals

Customized Interior
Custom furniture by Tylko.

2015 saw a slew of online furniture brands launch onto the market offering their customers the ability to customize and order furniture online to their own unique specifications. The trend looks set to continue into 2016 as these new online companies establish themselves and reach a wider audience.

Jason Goldberg's new flat-pack furniture brand Hem offers a slick set of customization tools on its website that allow customers to pick fabrics, sizes and configurations to suit their individual space. With a big focus on the development of complex algorithms and 3D software, new Poland-based furniture brand Tylko allows customers to not only customize colors and finishes but to also create furniture with its own unique shape and form. Launched this year at NeoCon, ShopFloor makes use of generative algorithms and 3D software to facilitate streamlined production of customized furniture designs including wall coverings, perforated metal panels and a snaking aluminum bench by Jonathan Olivares.

Retro Tech
Serif TV by Samsung.

Technology is softening its edges and moving away from the impersonal, hard lined approach of the past. Like the early domestic technology of the 1950s and 60s, the latest devices are part of the furniture.

Samsung's Serif TV is bringing back the mid twentieth century concept of the stylized TV. With its I-shaped profile and a magnetic fabric panel at the rear that conceals messy wires and plugs, Serif is challenging the perception of what a flatscreen TV should look like. Packaged in a soft-edged, stitched leather carry case that blends 1960s styling with cutting edge technology, Michael Young's new portable Bluetooth speaker for Italian brand Brionvega is inspired by one of the Italian brand's earliest products, the TS 207 portable radio designed by Rodolfo Bonetto. Recognizing a gap in the market for finely crafted audio equipment, New York-based Symbol handcraft modern audio HIFI consoles and vinyl LP storage cabinets in the tradition of fine furniture.

Tailored Materiality
Mid-Century, part of West Elm's new office division.

"Finish application has always been an important element of workplace design," says Steve Delfino, vice president of corporate marketing and product management at Teknion, who believes that 2016 will see designers using color and texture to create a more varied, inspiring and personalized work environment. "We're seeing an increased emphasis on varied materiality throughout the workplace to create environments that influence wellness and productivity," he says.

Teknion's upStage™ offers an assortment of material options, including textiles and wood veneer, translucent and back-painted glass, perforated metal and a range of metal and laminate finishes. "We've taken everyday materials and used them in unexpected ways that draw reference from residential design cues," says Teknion. The Alumni chair by Amsterdam-based designer Jesse Visser and Geke Lensink of Dutch manufacturer eQ+ can blend into the home or office thanks to its various base options and coatings that include nickel, gold, black, black brass or white as well as a wide selection of Kvadrat fabric and leather upholstery options. Launched earlier this year at NeoCon, the 75+ pieces in West Elm's new office division are designed to make the office feel less 'office-like' with finish options that run the gamut of style, from steel and white laminate to walnut veneer and antiqued bronze

Seamless Functionalities
Le Lit Nationa's Origami Bed by Elise Fouin.

Seasoned retail and trade show editor Heloisa Righetto of trend forecasting and analysis service WGSN Lifestyle predicts a move towards furniture that facilitates numerous different activities. "Although multifunctional furniture is not a new concept, these added functions are becoming more intuitive, more fluid and less about novelty."

Made up of modular units, including tables, poufs, cabinets and sofas in various fabrics, Werner Aisslinger's 'Bikini Island' sofa system for Moroso can be customized to integrate as many functions as needed. "Life in the living room has changed quite a lot recently," explains Aisslinger. "Families and their kids are chilling with different activities-reading, downloading files, writing emails, gaming, chatting with friends, watching movies on a pad, relaxing, talking, thinking or meditating." Induction-charging stations are gradually being integrated into furniture and lighting as standard. Earlier this year Ikea introduced a series of lamps, bedside tables and desks that are able to wirelessly charge any portable electronic devices that are placed on top of them. The headboard of Le Lit National's Origami bed by Elise Fouin is covered in decorative pockets that double as storage while the reverse serves as a desk.

70s-Inspired
Chouchin pendant lamps for Foscarini.

1970s-inspired furnishings are set to make a comeback in 2016 according to New York-based hospitality designer and entrepreneur Stacy Garcia. "The relaxed, free-spirited nature of that era has been attractive to the fashion industry and has quickly moved towards interiors as well. Many design elements of the 70s were bold, raw and globally-fueled, as a response to the changing social and political environment of that time."

Stacy Garcia's Calabasas furniture collection for D'Style takes its design cues from the wanderlust of the global traveler and the boldness of the 1970's nonconformist. Musician Lenny Kravitz turned his hand to furniture design in 2015 when he paired with CB2 to launch his debut line of furniture, lighting and accessories. Inspired by 1970s New York club culture, the 20-piece collection features polished metals, bold geometric patterns, walnut and sheepskin. Ionna Vautrin's Chouchin pendant lamps for Foscarini evoke the 1970s with their lantern shapes and avocado green, grey and orange colorways.

Agile Planning
QuickStand by Humanscale.

The flexible office trend has dominated the contract furniture industry in recent years and in 2016 Steve Delfino, vice president of corporate marketing and product management at Teknion, expects the theme to evolve. "There is an increased expectation for flexibility and adaptability in the workplace," he says. "Now clients are requesting products that can adjust to an ever-changing work landscape."

Catering to offices of anything between two and two hundred, Poppin's Series A Desk System has an easy, tool-free construction that lets growing offices quickly and effortlessly create new different desk configurations. hiSpace is an expanding height-adjustable bench design from Teknion that can create benching environments for two to sixteen users. Named as the best office accessory of the decade at our very own Interior Design 2015 Best of Year Awards, the QuickStand by Humanscale is a height-adjustable workstation that attaches to the back of any work surface to transform it into a height adjustable desk.

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Design Forecast: 10 Trends to Watch for in 2016

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As we close the door on 2015, lets take a look at what the design industry experts are saying about the coming year. As modern life gets busier and more pressured, our homes have become our sanctuaries. Centered around simplicity, serenity and seamlessness, the 2016 interior reflects our need to switch off and detox.

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•Visit different places
•Try new foods
•Learn about different cultures

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Marshall Brain, Robert Lamb, Brian Adkins

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More than 100 years ago the Wright brothers made their historic first flight in Kitty Hawk, N.C. Even after all these years, their creation still boggles the mind: How can something so heavy take to the air?

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•How to grow good fruits and vegetables?
•What is the best soil to use?
•Good times to garden

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The health benefits of carrots include reduced cholesterol, lower risk of heart attacks, prevention of certain cancers, improved vision, and reduced signs of premature aging. Furthermore, carrots have the ability to improve the skin, boost the immune system, improve digestion, protect cardiovascular health, detoxify the body, and boost oral health in a variety of ways. They also provide a well-rounded influx of vitamins and minerals.

What are Carrots?

Carrots are one of the most widely used and enjoyed vegetables in the world, partly because they grow relatively easily and are very versatile in a number of dishes and cultural cuisines. They are scientifically classified asand categorized as a root vegetable. Carrots come in different colors such as orange, purple, white, yellow, and red. The taproot of the carrot is the part of the vegetable most commonly eaten, although the greens are still beneficial in salads and other forms.

The type of carrot most commonly eaten around the world is the domesticated variety of the wild species named above and it is native to Europe and Southwestern Asia. The majority of carrots are now cultivated in China, but they are exported throughout the world to be included in salads and soups, as well as a stand-alone vegetable for snacks, side dishes, and essential ingredients in many recipes.

Carrots in the wild have a woody core element that is not very palatable, so cultivation has eventually selected that characteristic out and we are left with the form of carrots that we are familiar with today. Both adults and children like them because of their crunchy texture and sweet taste, so this is one of the valuable vegetables for parents, as children seem to enjoy eating them, which is a rare exception!

The health benefits of carrots and their delicious taste make them an important vegetable in cultural cuisines across the globe, so let's first understand what exactly is it about carrots that makes them so beneficial!

Carrots Nutrition Facts

Most of the benefits of carrots can be attributed to their beta-carotene and fiber content. These root vegetables are also a good source of antioxidants. Furthermore, they are rich in vitamin A, C, K, and B8, as well as pantothenic acid, folate, potassium, iron, copper, and manganese.

Health Benefits of Carrots

Health benefits of carrots include the following:

Prevent Heart Diseases

In a study meant to reveal the therapeutic value of carrots, researchers at the Wolfson Gastrointestinal Laboratory in Edinburgh, Scotland revealed that cholesterol level drops by an average of 11 percent if seven ounces of raw carrots per day are consumed for three weeks.

cholesterol levels, it is a good idea to consume a healthy dose of carrots, in order to prevent heart-related problems. A group of Swedish scientists discovered that these root vegetables can reduce the chances of having a heart attack. A study conducted at the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Italy found that those who ate more carrots had a 1/3rd risk of heart attack as compared with those who ate fewer carrots.

Lower Blood Pressure

They are rich sources of potassium, which is a vasodilator and can relax the tension in your blood vessels and arteries, thereby increasing blood flow and circulation, boosting organ function throughout the body, and reducing the stress on the cardiovascular system. High blood pressure is directly linked to atherosclerosis, strokes, and heart attacks, so this is yet another heart-healthy aspect of carrots! The coumarin found in them has also been linked to reducing hypertension and protecting the heart health!

Boost Immunity

Carrots contain a number of antiseptic and antibacterial abilities that make them ideal for boosting the immune system. Not only that, they are a rich source of vitamin C, which stimulates the activity of white blood cells and is one of the most important elements in the human immune system.

Help in Digestion

Carrots, like most vegetables, have significant amounts of dietary fiber in their roots, and fiber is one of the most important elements in maintaining good digestive health. Fiber adds bulk to stool, which helps it pass smoothly through the digestive tract, and stimulates peristaltic motion and the secretion of gastric juices. Altogether, this reduces the severity of conditions like constipation and protects your colon and stomach from various serious illnesses, including colorectal cancer. Fiber also boosts heart health by helping eliminate excess LDL cholesterol from the walls of arteries and blood vessels.

Prevent Cancer

Beta-carotene consumption has been linked to a reduced risk of several cancers, notably lung cancer. British researchers discovered that increasing beta-carotene consumption from 1.7 to 2.7 milligrams per day reduced lung cancer risk by more than 40 percent. An average carrot contains about three milligrams of beta-carotene.

In a separate study, researchers found that eating fiber-rich carrots reduced the risk of colon cancer by as much as 24 percent. Another study shows that women who ate raw carrots were five to eight times less likely to develop breast cancer than those who did not.

Reduce Macular Degeneration

This is a common eye disease of the elderly that impairs the function of the macula. Research has found that people who ate the most amount of beta-carotene had a forty percent lower risk of macular degeneration compared with those who consumed the least. Beta-carotene can also split itself via an enzymatic reaction to form pro-vitamin A, which is often associated with antioxidant capacity in relation to vision. Therefore, carrots are an all-around vision booster.

Improve Eyesight

Deficiency of vitamin A can cause some difficulty seeing in dim light. Since carrots are rich in vitamin A, they are good for improving eyesight and preventing conditions like night blindness from developing as we age.

Improve Oral Health

The organic compounds in carrots are good mineral antioxidants and they also stimulate the gums and induce excess saliva. Saliva is an alkaline substance and combats the bacteria and foreign bodies that can often result in cavities, halitosis, and other oral health risks.

Reduce the Risk of Stroke

Eating a carrot every day reduces the risk of stroke by 68%. Many studies have strengthened the belief in the "carrot effect" on the brain. Studies conducted on stroke patients revealed that those with the highest levels of beta-carotene had the highest survival rate.

Control Diabetes

Carrots are good for blood sugar regulation due to the presence of carotenoids in them. Carotenoids inversely affect insulin resistance and thus lower blood sugar, thereby helping diabetics live a normal, healthy life. They also regulate the amount of insulin and glucose that is being used and metabolized by the body, providing a healthy fluctuation in diabetics.

They have antiseptic qualities and can, therefore, be used as laxatives, vermicides, and as a remedy for liver conditions. Carrot oil is good for dry skin because it makes the skin softer, smoother, and firmer. Furthermore, carrot juice improves stomach and gastrointestinal health.

Thus, carrots, consumed as raw fruits, juice or in a cooked form, are always a good choice for your health!

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10 Impressive Benefits of Carrots | Organic Facts

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Nutrient rich carrots offer many health benefits including improved skin health, oral health and eyesight. Carrots also help improve digestion and cardiovascular health. The health benefits of carrots include reduced cholesterol, lower risk of heart attacks, prevention of certain cancers, improved vision, and reduced signs of premature aging.

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•Calligraphy
•Fancy Script

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Calligraphy writing is not just about patience and accuracy. Letâ€™s continue our discussion with something as much important. Being able to write beautiful and accurate strokes and shapes nonetheless could lead to a messy and barely readable text. Thatâ€™s because all letters within a portion of text should follow a general pattern, so they donâ€™t fight but rather supplement each other. Thatâ€™s where calligraphy alphabet or style comes into play. The alphabet is historically established set of rules, forms and shapes that makes all letters within a word, sentence, paragraph or entire text look great together. Letâ€™s move on discussion of some most popular alphabet styles used in calligraphy.

Basic calligraphy alphabet: Italic

The first alphabet that a lot of people are willing to learn is Italic. Italic one amongst the most popular, the most versatile, and the most useful alphabet which you can learn. Italic alphabet often is also called Chancery or Chancery Cursive. It originated in Italy during the Italian Renaissance and used at all levels of society - from official documents to personal correspondence. Leonardo da Vinci used a variation of the Italic alphabet.

Blackletter alphabet

Blackletter alphabet name originates from this alphabetâ€™s dense, dark appearance, particularly when you see entire page covered with these letters. Blackletter sometimes is also called Gothic, because it originated in the Gothic or Medieval era when monks and scribes used it for copying church documents. Nowadays Blackletter is used mainly in headings on certificates and diplomas. Many newspapers use versions of this alphabet in their headings.

Blackletter has wonderful visual appeal, it looks really wealthy official. One of the popular versions of this style is called Old Englsh. What surprises regarding this difficult-looking style is how amazingly easy it is to learn. The lower case letters are all produced from just seven basic strokes, and of those seven strokes, four are used in only some of the letters. That results in just three basic strokes that are used in a variety of combinations to produce the majority of the letters. However, it cannot be lettered as speedily as some other alphabets like Italic. It is also not always easy to read.

Roman alphabet

Itâ€™s called in this way due to the fact that the ancient Romans actually invented it, why it is considered the oldest known calligraphy alphabet. Nowadays the Roman alphabet can be seen just about everywhere. The majority of the Western alphabets, typefaces, and fonts that we employ are based on these letters. The Roman alphabet is convenient to read, and it symbolizes classical elegance in its finest form. It combines well along with other styles and is particularly suitable for titles.
Getting the hang of the Roman alphabet entails studying both the formation of the letters and the pen angle. It is far from simple to do, in fact it challenges your skills as a calligrapher; because of the simplicity of the letters the flaws or mistakes stand out and can be easily noticed.

Manuscript alphabet

It is recognized by a number of different names, such as Manuscript, Bookhand and Foundational Hand. Itâ€™s a variation of the Roman alphabet. Due to the fact it looks less formal than classical Roman alphabet and is less difficult to do, it has far more practical applications. It was initially used for lettering manuscripts and books, and with time transformed into many of the font types we see in books these days.

This alphabet has been a favored as a starters alphabet with many calligraphy teachers. Itâ€™s amongst the easiest styles to learn. The letters are consistent in structure and the strokes are incredibly natural. The Manuscript alphabet demands no extraordinary manipulation of the pen. Despite this fact, its value really should not be underrated. It is very beautiful and convenient style that should not be unappreciated.

Uncial alphabet

The Uncial alphabet is likewise one of the easiest and most favorite alphabets nowadays, favorite for a lot of students. It is looking amazing and has a rich historical past. It exhibits the variety of gorgeous strokes that can be produced using the broad-edge pen. This alphabet is quite forgiving in relation to mistakes in letter sizes and shapes. They can be not quite accurate but nevertheless look good. All that is needed is to have the strokes steady and smooth. All the letters are wide and fat, additionally there are no lowercase letters - they all are capitals.

This concludes our overview of the most useful calligraphy alphabet types. It is up to you to choose one them and start practicing your calligraphy writing right away. I wish you good luck in practice, stay with me for further updates.

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Calligraphy writing is not just about patience and accuracy. Letâ€™s continue our discussion with something as much important. Being able to write beautiful and accurate strokes and shapes nonetheless could lead to a messy and barely readable text. Thatâ€™s because all letters within a portion of text should follow a general pattern, so they donâ€™t fight but rather supplement each other.

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•Confidence
•Give Myself a Pep Talk
•Do Not Give in to Mean Comments or

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IKEA - UNG DRILL, Mirror, , Suitable for use in most rooms, and tested and approved for bathroom use.Safety film reduces damage if glass is broken.

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•Trills
•Vibrato
•Practice Techniques

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The Gemeinhardt 3B silver-plated intermediate flute offers a French model flute with B footjoint at an affordable price.

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•Keep Animals Safe
•Organzizations that Help Animals

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11 Extinct Animals We've Lost in Our Lifetime

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Just the last 40 years we've lost an incredible variety of species, like these amazing creatures. See pictures of animals that have disappeared recently.

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•How to block out distractions?
•Ways to Get things Done Efficiently

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Home furnishings, kitchens, appliances, sofas, beds, mattresses - IKEA

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IKEA Home furnishings, kitchens, appliances, sofas, beds, mattresses

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•Techniques
•Ways To Practice
•Beginner Things

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•How to relieve stress in tight situations?
•Some Ways to Easily Relive Stress

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By Sam Yang - Get similar updates here

Stress is neither right or wrong, it is a response. It is how our bodies and minds react to challenges. Just as perceptions and opinions shape narratives, they also shape our responses to stress. Managing stress begins with changing our perceptions of stress.

If we consider stress a negative and try to avoid it whenever possible, it will consume us. Just as when we lie in bed trying not to think about insomnia, it will be all we think about. We know this feeling, whenever we try to get over an ex, is when we have the hardest time. In , Eckhart Tolle put it so eloquently when he wrote:

"Whatever you fight, you strengthen, and what you resist, persists."

With internal responses, it's sometimes best to let it take its course.

Many Philosophies, the Same Perspective

From the view of Eastern philosophy to Western psychology, the opposite of depression is not happiness but rather resilience. The symbolism of breaking boards in martial arts to talk therapy in the clinical setting, the attempt is to give people the tools to overcome frustrations and daily obstacles - to condition them for the challenges of life.

Psychologist Peter Kramer believes treatment shouldn't dull deep emotions and feelings. Treatment should build a protective emotional barrier for patients so they don't feel overwhelmed.

Managing Stress

In finance, stress management is risk management. Lack of resilience is being risk adverse. Whether it is known as risk or stress, the idea remains the same - fear of the unknown. However, stress is a loaded topic, so thinking about it the same way we think about risk can give us objective clarity. Risk management is not avoiding all risk, it is the optimal amount of risk for the most amount of gain. Avoidance of all risk only encourages risk; it risks us to poverty.

Stress can kill us, but it also saves us. Stress hormones in excess can make us anxious and sick, but it can also lower inflammation and reward our brains. It can stunt growth; however it is the only path for growth. Like water, it may take us one way or the other, create a calm sea or a storm, but it is always moving. Without stress, there is no movement.

See stress for what it is, a powerful conduit for change. It is evolution - aiding us, keeping us alive and alert. We don't have a problematic relationship with stress, we have a problematic relationship with intensity. What's lacking is appropriate training in channeling that energy, in controlling that power. (A principal tenet of martial arts training.)

Sailing a boat requires lots of practice. A good captain needs experience in all conditions, the more challenging the practice, the better the captain. Just as we would not trust a captain who's only sailed in calm waters, we want leaders who've been through adversity.

Emotions Create Emotional Growth

Any biography of a person we admire is a story of tragedy channeled into purpose. Struggles create psychic energy, we can either direct it to something important or we can let it destroy us. Channel it to overcome obstacles. And if we don't, we won't. How does one get anywhere without overcoming? We want significant progress without moving, that is the paradox that keeps us trapped in the stress-suffering cycle.

The story of America is the story of immigrant families absorbing substantial risk and making a home. When asked how they pushed through, their answer: because they had to. Ordinary people can lift cars, survive disasters, go from rags to riches, and overcome the odds when they have to. That's the power of stress. We often hate it; that's our perception of course, but we love the results. Meaningful things are born out of tough situations.

Paralysis Rather than Progress

When we remove all obstacles, stressors, and risks - we die. I don't mean this figuratively, I mean literally, we will die. Putting aside our emotional and intellectual health for a moment, but from the immune system, the heart, to our cells, they cannot survive without contact. Just as the muscles of astronauts in space atrophy when there is less duress from gravity. Astronauts are weightless, but they are never under zero gravity. Otherwise, their ship would not stay in orbit. Without gravity, we would lose the moon. Without gravity, we would leave our orbit around the sun. There always needs to be a pull, some pressure, some duress, some stress, or we perish. That is the truth we must accept. Without acceptance, there is no control. How do we mend a relationship unless we accept there is a relationship that needs mending? Our relationship with stress is plagued with these riddles when our relationship with stress is incoherent and inconsistent.

Without an ability to cope, everything becomes stressful. A hyperfocus on not screwing up makes us anxious about everything we do. Constantly second guessing and over-thinking. Life is a myriad of experiences; hiding under a rock to avoid all the bad, also means avoiding all the good. Without natural experiences, there is no need for resilience, no reason to grow (physically, emotionally, and intellectually), and without experiences to draw from, there is no foundation for empathy. Without stress, there is no psychic debt to channel and no rewards for our risks. Without a need, there is no reason, and without reason it will not happen. Nature adapts and takes actions. Removing ourselves from the ways of nature is equal to holding our breaths, and without breath, there is no life. (Even air itself is not pure oxygen, in fact, pure oxygen can be just as toxic as toxic air. This is the absurdity of binary thinking.)

The fear of suffering deprives us of happiness. Stress engages us with life. Too much and we burn out. Too little arousal and we lose engagement. When we find that balance is when we perform to our capacity. Stress increases our capacity. Now that can break us but it can also mold us.

Resilience Rather than Resistance

University of New Hampshire professor, Paul Harvey, finds that the sheltering of oneself from reality has the opposite of the intended effect. Instead of protecting people from sadness, it creates "unrealistic expectations and a strong resistance toward accepting negative feedback" and "an inflated view of oneself." Reality never matches the expectations of the self. In running from criticism, we become our harshest critic.

Our relationship with opinion and reality is noncohesive. Once we give ourselves permission to stress is when we stop being its prisoner. Stress makes us almost superhuman - so much so that it can be overwhelming. It can grow and grow but finding a purpose helps to release the excess. Purpose is not to be confused with passion. Purpose is a relationship with a greater group. Passion can often be self-serving while purpose is about service to others. The feeling of serving no purpose is called sadness. Selfishness is the bridge to sadness, it severs shared experiences. We often ask ourselves what our purpose is in the world yet look for happiness by doing things that only benefit ourselves. (Replacing purpose with passion.) That is the great irony, we are somehow aware of the problems, yet we mindlessly act against these interests.

People who migrated, to start over and raise their families - they had a reason to be resilient. The previous generations who survived war, factory jobs, prejudice, and sexism - they had a reason to be resilient. They didn't do it only for themselves, they did it for their families, they did it for the generations after them. We need a reason to be resilient, we need people to be resilient for.

The Effective Dosage

When we don't eat, we perish. If we eat less and challenge our bodies to do more with less food, we are likely to live longer.

Fasting triggers stem cell regeneration.

Our immune system reacts to stress by getting stronger. That is the nature of vaccines, they give us inert disease so we can become resilient to it.

Decedents of the Black Plague survivors live longer, and a certain percentage of them are immune to AIDS.

Arthritis and back pain are triggered when we move, but the symptoms improve the more we move.

Avoiding social situations increases social isolation but the exposure to social situations is the common treatment for shyness.

Poison can kill us, but in small doses, it can extend our life. This phenomenon is called hormesis.

Inversely, excessive hygiene, over-sanitizing the human experience, lowers life expectancy and increases the chances of illness.

Avoiding bacteria also wards off friendly bacteria our bodies need to stay healthy.

Stress Isn't What's Dangerous, It's the Lack of Balance
Extremism is easy because going "all in" doesn't require critical thinking. We don't have to rebalance or remain responsive, we can stick to doing it one way. (Even when it's not working.) The problem is, decreasing the exposure of one thing increases the exposure of another - we're back to square one. Yin-yang is the balancing of these elements for effective dosage. This requires daily practice and awareness. William Shakespeare in wrote:

"There is nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so."

Framing things as good or bad leads to extremes. Then there is no neutral or balance because there is no choice. There is only one path, which is toward good. Not to say everyone only does good things, we are able to justify some of the worst behaviors as good because we are motivated to do so. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux said:

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

The soul of balance is about equals. The yin-yang has been corrupted by Western dualism and moralism. In yin-yang, there is only hot and cold, push and pull, small and big, east or west. Good or bad is the opposite of yin-yang, as it is a justification that one path is clearly better than the other, it is absolutism. Yin-yang is actually one compound word, not two separate ideas. Consider for a moment our senses during a meal. We can smell food or taste food. We can smell it and then taste it. But this is not to be mistaken for smell-taste, the combined experience of being able to taste something from the smell, and smell something from the taste, and blending them together to enhance the experience of eating. It is all connected. This is yin-yang, one informs the other. Call it holism, realism, science - or the Way. When we see through a peephole, we only see doorknobs and miss the doors they are attached to. And if we see the door, we lose the doorknob. Door or handle, good or bad - the modern Catch-22 paradox.

Yet there is no "or" in the Way, it is always both. Good or bad is not a study of opposites, it is a study of illusory superiority. Imagine thinking of the Sun and the Moon in terms of good or bad. It is the improper way to think about them as there is no good or bad, it just is. If we did try to see the Sun and the Moon in the good or bad duality, then perhaps we would see the Sun as good, and the moon as a burned out desolate version of the Sun. Comparing a human to an animal, that is yin-yang. Comparing a human to an evil human, that is the Western binary co-opting of yin-yang. The evil person is not an opposite, it is twisted sameness. It is not apples and oranges, it is apples or rotten apples - moral vs. corrupt. Using morality in the matters of intent can make sense, when using it for things that should have no morality is when it is harmful.

"I ate this cake, I am a bad person. I didn't eat cake, I am a good person." This is completely unreasonable yet this is completely acceptable thinking. Stress is bad, no-stress is good - is just as harmful to our well-being.

"Right is not right; so is not so. If right were really right it would differ so clearly from not right that there would be no need for argument. If so were really so, it would differ so clearly from not so that there would be no need for argument." - Chuang Tzu

Being half right and half wrong is not the Way, for there is no right. The Way is a holistic view that there may be many perceptions of truth. Moralism gives clear rules that one is right, one is wrong, and to only do what's right. Then there is no decision to make, no guidance needed. It is rigid, conformist, and extreme - no flow and no Way to be balanced. This is the notion that there is only one correct path, this is determinism, predestination, and authoritarianism. A simple way to control a group, but offers little help for the individual and the particular instances of their life. Yin-yang is a symbol that there are no right or wrong or absolutes - not the right way or the wrong way - only the Way.

"As a boy, I'd learned that it's the Latin, and maybe a Greek, word for 'suffering' that gives rise to our word 'passion.' Etymologically, the opposite of 'suffering' is, therefore, 'apathy'; the Passion of the Christ, say, is a reminder, even a proof, that suffering is something that a few high souls embrace to try to lessen the pains of others. Passion with the plight of others makes for 'compassion.'" - Pico Iyer, The New York Times

Several Years Ago My Sister Passed Away...

My brain was spinning, my mind moving so fast, thoughts whirring - and I used this alertness. I read and studied, I used my sleeplessness to write and define what I wanted to do with my life. What grew out of that was a health and fitness business that has helped thousands of people. My life has somehow become more positive than it was prior to that tragedy. I am inspired when I speak and write. It was my choice, how I perceived this stress. It was traumatic, but it was also growth. This is not to say the ends justify the means, but how awful would it have been if the residue of my sister's life were only that of pain? We believe we must suffer because suffering is heroic. Yet it was never suffering that was heroic, someone putting a cause above themselves, that was heroic. For this, the hero often suffered, but suffering for no cause other than to suffer is irrational. It is mistaking the effect for the cause.

Psychologists call this sublimation, transferring impulses and reactions into something more positive and productive. We recognize this as maturity, and it should never stop because circumstances will never stop changing.

For some family members, they never channeled this energy. They tried to suppress it. Why wouldn't they if they considered it a devil meant to be hidden in the basement? We can create strength or fragility, but there is no coming out of this the same as we entered.

Traumatic Growth

By reframing my views on stress and trauma, I was able to learn from the experience and move on. I wasn't trapped in my own head, I wasn't reliving the anguish over and over again. It wasn't pleasant nor easy. I allowed myself the freedom to feel however I was going to feel. I had no expectations. I didn't resist. I yielded to the experience. Difficult and painful, but ultimately those feelings flitted away...

Death is a Natural Part of the Life Cycle

Since then I've lost other family members. I started this article while my father was in the hospital. I am finishing this from the hospital where my mother is hospitalized. I wrote this while most of the world was sleeping. I didn't stay up to write it - I wasn't going to sleep regardless - I wrote rather than stare deeply into the abyss.

I think about loved ones daily and it keeps me driven. It's no longer sad, just... defining. Every negative and stressful event is the psychic energy for what I do next - because some days I have no energy - yet this keeps me going. That's stress and it can be a good thing.

Summary

The very act of changing our perspective of stress, from an undesirable thing to a neutral or even positive thing can allow us to learn from our experiences and move on with our lives. The right dosage of stress can create positive growth. The removal of all stress can be just as deadly as being immersed in it. When we reduce the dosage of one thing, we unwittingly increase another. The most dangerous thing of all isn't stress, it's the lack of balance.

Useful Companions to This Article:

Sam Yang from an early age has been obsessed with connecting the dots between martial arts and efficiency, health, mindset, business, science, and habits to improve optimal well-being. For more info, join his newsletter. You can also connect to All Out Effort on Facebook and Twitter.

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The Upside to Stress: An Eastern Perspective

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By Sam Yang - Get similar updates here Stress is neither right or wrong, it is a response. It is how our bodies and minds react to challenges. Just as perceptions and opinions shape narratives, they also shape our responses to stress. Managing stress begins with changing our perceptions of stress.